Manager (Welding Engineering/Quality Control)

Manager (Welding Engineering/Quality Control) Job Highlights

Company Profile

Seaspan is an association of Canadian companies primarily involved in coastal marine transportation, ship docking/ship escort, ship repair/refit, and shipbuilding services. It also provides commercial ferry, shipyard, and bunkering services via affiliate companies such as Marine Petrobulk, Seaspan Ferries, Vancouver Drydock, Vancouver Shipyards, and Victoria Shipyards.

Job Profile

The company is searching for a Manager (Welding Engineering/Quality Control) who will be responsible for ensuring all welding performed is in alignment with the standards specified. This includes the planning and execution of quality control and subsequent applicable re-work strategies.

Also, coordinates all welding engineering activities in support of vessel repair and construction activities at Victoria Shipyards Ltd (VSL). This includes Naval vessels (surface and submarines), Coast Guard, BC Ferries, and commercial operators.

Leads all aspects of the development, certification, and maintenance of all weld procedures at VSL. The Manager also provides technical mentorship for joint designs, welding rates, distortion control, equipment evaluations, and weld quality to various VSL departments.

The position analyzes actual welding rates and works with production personnel to improve weld quality and productivity.

The position is the primary collaboration with the Canadian Welding Bureau and regulatory bodies for issues related to welding or weld quality.

Educational Qualification

• Applicants should have a Bachelor’s Degree in Welding Engineering or Metallurgy or a related field
• A Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) registered or qualified to register with EGBC
• Current valid CWB CSA W178.2 Level 2 Welding Inspector Certification (or preferably international equivalent such as AWS CWI).
• CWB-approved Welding Engineer is preferred.
• Welding Inspector certifications or diplomas, preferably international

Work Experience

• Minimum 3 years of supervision/management experience, leading a small team of Welding Specialists.
• Minimum 7 years of direct experience as a welding engineer in a large manufacturing environment
• Previous experience in the shipbuilding/ship repair industry.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Act as primary collaboration with VSL’s retained welding engineers
• Act as VSL’s primary communication with CWB and regulatory bodies
• Develop and certify new welding procedures for VSL as required to improve welding quality, efficiency, and contract requirements
• Evaluate welding equipment and filler materials for suitability at VSL. Document findings and provide recommendations to Supply Chain Management for procurement
• Monitor and report shipyard welding performance by data collection and analysis on actual labour hours, arc times, consumable usage, and other pertinent variables
• Monitor or perform periodic reviews of VSL’s welding practices in accordance with Canadian Standards Association W 47.1 requirements
• Monitor trends in the industry and implement welding standard methodologies
• Oversee the continuous review of VSL’s welding procedures. Implement improvements in processes and materials to improve both quality and productivity
• Provide guidance to the Technical Department for joint designs of structural and piping systems and guidance/direction regarding proper weld sequencing to reduce distortion and improve accuracy
• Resolve production welding issues. Support initiatives to improve productivity, reduce rework, and improve quality across all shipyards
• Supervise and provide guidance on the development of procedure qualification records to record variables during the welding of test assemblies
• Supervise and provide guidance on the preparation of welding procedure specifications and procedure data sheets for related procedures
• Supervise the monitoring of shipyard weld quality. Advise trades and area management of quality issues and work with them to resolve work not in accordance with standards, specifications, and contract requirements

Skills/Knowledge/Abilities

• Ability to obtain Industrial Security – NATO Secret designation
• Ability to work productively in a matrix organization that supports several different trades and areas of the shipyard
• Ability to work with limited direction and to function as a key team member
• Excellent computer skills including Word/Excel/PowerPoint
• Excellent interpersonal skills both written and verbal
• Extensive knowledge of non-destructive weld test processes and procedures including, but not limited to, visual, radiographic, ultrasonic, die penetrant, and mag particle.
• Extensive knowledge of welding metallurgy, CSA, ABS, Lloyd’s, DNV-GL, and other regulatory requirements related to welding and fabrication in the marine industry.
• Extensive knowledge of welding processes: welding procedure approval (WPQR), welding procedure specification (WPS), shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), flux cored arc welding (FCAW), metal cored arc welding (MCAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW), submerged arc welding (SAW), gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), and stud welding
• Familiarity with ship systems including structural, mechanical, piping, electrical, and coatings
• Good judgment and reasoning skills
• Proven ability to multi-task, prioritize, and problem solve
• Proven competence in evaluating weld test specimens including bend tests, macro-etch specimens, tensile tests, Charpy V-notch, etc.
• Solid understanding of shipbuilding construction methods and procedures
• Strong customer service focus
• Strong initiative, creativity, and integrity
• Strong leadership skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Strong problem-solving skills, analytical abilities, and interpersonal skills
• Strong technical capability to read and interpret complex specifications and detailed engineering drawings

Benefits/Perks

• The company provides an attractive remuneration package with pension contributions, bonus programs, extended medical benefits, dental care, vision care, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, an Employee Assistance Program, as well as free 24-7 access to the company fitness facility for all permanent employees.

Employer’s Statement

Seaspan is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and encourages applications from all qualified individuals including, women, members of visible minorities, Indigenous persons, and persons with disabilities.